Guwahati: Assam minister Pijush Hazarika attended a special awareness program on the occasion of International Overdose Awareness Day in the city and commented that drug overdose and addiction can ruin the life of not only one individual, but the entire family.
Hazarika, while speaking at the event, organized by the State Anti-Drug and Prevention Council on Wednesday, revealed that about 2,300 people died of drug overdoses in India from 2017 to 2019. The minister said that the worst of these is the death of about 70 children.
“There is nothing more unbearable for parents than seeing their children die of drug addiction before their eyes,” said Hazarika, adding that the State government has been working against illegal drugs and drug traffickers since its formation under the leadership of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Witnessing many youngsters who have come out of the addiction in the meeting, Hazarika specially expressed his gratitude to everyone who had been able to come out of the clutches of drugs. A young man, who has reformed himself, also addressed the meeting and thanked the government for creating a friendly environment for all those who want to come out of the grasp of drugs.
Narcotic Control Bureau director Rakesh Chandra Shukla also spoke about the menace of drug overdose. State Anti-Drug and Prevention Council vice president Jitu Borgohain, Assam State Scheduled Castes Development Corporation chairman Jayanta Das and a number of dignitaries were present on the occasion.
